**Executive Summary**
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued directions on November 28, 2025, mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India. This initiative aims to safeguard citizens from non-genuine handsets, facilitate easy reporting of telecom resource misuse, and enhance telecom cyber security. Manufacturers and importers must implement these directions within 90 days and submit a compliance report in 120 days.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pre-installation Mandate:**
* The Sanchar Saathi mobile application must be pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.
* The pre-installed app must be readily visible, accessible, and fully functional for users upon initial device setup, with no disabled or restricted functionalities.
* **Implementation for Existing Devices:**
* For devices already manufactured and available in sales channels in India, manufacturers and importers should attempt to push the app through software updates.
* **Compliance and Reporting:**
* Manufacturers and importers have 90 days to complete the implementation of the directions.
* A compliance report must be submitted within 120 days.
* **Sanchar Saathi App Purpose:**
* The app, developed by DoT, enables citizens to check the genuineness of mobile handsets via the IMEI number.
* It also facilitates reporting of suspected fraud communications, lost/stolen mobile handsets, checking mobile connections registered in their name, and verifying trusted contact details of banks/financial institutions.
* **Addressing Security Threats:**
* The directions are issued under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules (TCS), empowering the Central Government to address tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI numbers.
* The initiative aims to combat duplicate or spoofed IMEIs, which pose a threat to telecom cyber security and can lead to financial loss for purchasers of second-hand devices.
* The app allows for checking blocked/blacklisted IMEIs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Mobile Handset Manufacturers and Importers**
* **Impact:** Must ensure pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices and attempt software updates for existing devices.
* **Action Required:** Implement the pre-installation requirement within 90 days and submit a compliance report within 120 days.
**Citizens/Mobile Handset Users**
* **Impact:** Increased security and protection against non-genuine handsets and telecom fraud. Access to tools for reporting fraud and verifying handset genuineness.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Sanchar Saathi app to check the genuineness of mobile handsets, report suspected fraud, and manage mobile connections.
Key Entities Referenced
Sanchar Saathi App: Mobile application designed to verify the genuineness of mobile handsets and address telecom-related cyber fraud and security concerns, now mandated for pre-installation on new handsets.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The government department responsible for issuing the directions regarding pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi App.
Telecom Cyber Security: The sector of cybersecurity under which the mobile handsets are intended for use in India.
TCS Rules: Rules that empower the Central Government to issue directions related to International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) for tackling tampered telecommunication equipment.
India: The geographical area to which this policy applies.
Ministry of Communications
DoT issues directions for pre-installation of
Sanchar Saathi App in mobile handsets to verify
the genuineness of mobile handsets
Pre-installed App must be Visible, Functional, and Enabled
for users at first setup
Manufacturers must ensure the App is easily accessible
during device setup, with no disabling or restriction of its
features
Compliance Report due in 120 Days
प्रव तथ: 01 DEC 2025 6:36PM by PIB Delhi
In order to safeguard the citizens from buying the non-genuine handsets, enabling easy reporting of
suspected misuse of telecom resources and to increase effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative, the
DoT has issued Directions dated 28.11.2025 mandating the manufacturer and importers of mobile
handsets that are intended for use in India under the provisions of the Telecom Cyber Security to:
i. Ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application is pre-installed on all mobile handsets
manufactured or imported for use in India.
ii. Ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the
end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or
restricted.
iii. For all such devices that have been already been manufactured and are in sales channels in
India, the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets shall make an endeavour to push the
App through software updates.
Directions mandates to complete the implementation in 90 days and submit the report in 120 days.
Sanchar Saathi Initiative
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is undertaking Sanchar Saathi initiative for curbing misuse
of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security. DoT has developed Sanchar
Saathi portal & App which enables citizens to check genuineness of a mobile handset through the IMEI
number along with other facilities like reporting suspected fraud communications, lost/ stolen mobile
handsets, check mobile connections in their name, trusted contact details of banks/ financial institutions.
The TCS Rules empowers the Central Government to issue directions to manufacturers of
telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to provide
assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number. The Rulesalso mandates that such manufacturers or importers shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be
issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to the rules.
Mobile handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI poses serious endangerment to telecom cyber security.
Spoofed/ Tampered IMEIs in telecom network leads to situation where same IMEI is working in different
devices at different places simultaneously and pose challenges in action against such IMEIs. India has big
second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are
being re-sold. It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them. The
blocked/blacklisted IMEIs can be checked using Sanchar Saathi App.
Sanchar Saathi Mobile App can be downloaded to avail various services at:
For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dot.app.sancharsaathi
For iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/sanchar-saathi/id6739700695
Follow DoT Handles for more: -
X - https://x.com/DoT_India
Insta- https://www.instagram.com/department_of_telecom?igsh=MXUxbHFjd3llZTU0YQ==
Fb - https://www.facebook.com/DoTIndia
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@departmentoftelecom
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